As the westernmost institution in the UNC system, Western Carolina University provides
educational opportunities to residents of the state’s western region and attracts
students from around the globe to explore the area’s vast resources.

At Western Carolina University, we view our admissions process as our opportunity
to build the community that defines our institution. We look for people eager to explore
and ready to redefine success.

Programs and courses at Western Carolina are designed to provide hands-on, applied
experience. Students engage with communities across the region as they practice their
profession in real-world environments.

Western Carolina’s unique mountain location helps fuel a vibrant campus community
with more than 170 student clubs and organizations as well as a busy performing arts
calendar and the campus’s own adventure guide service.

Western Carolina is home to 16 Southern Conference athletic teams with more than 375
student athlete competitors. WCU strives to inspire student-athletes to compete like
champions on the field and in the classroom.

Western Carolina was founded to serve the region it calls home, and that has not changed.
WCU continues to focus on regional development initiatives, engaged service and community
programs. It also partners with alumni and donors to ensure access to higher education
for deserving students in the region and beyond.

Academic Programs & Support

Academic Programs & Support

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A communication degree can open doors to a wide variety of exciting and creative professional
opportunities. Western Carolina University’s communication degree program gives students
a choice of concentrations in broadcasting, broadcast sales, journalism or public
relations. Students follow a dynamic curriculum taught by expert faculty members,
many of whom possess years of professional experience. They learn in classrooms and
facilities equipped with the latest technology to provide them with marketable skills.
Each year, approximately 75 to 85 students earn their communication degree. Thanks
to the program’s required professional internship experience, graduates enter the
most sought-after fields, often in major markets.

What You'll Learn

The WCU Communication Program blends a traditional curriculum with hands-on learning
and experiences through collaboration with fellow students, faculty and industry professionals.
The core curriculum is composed of practical, theory and professional courses such
as Writing for Communication, Communication Theory and Criticism, and Introduction
to Professional Development. Regardless of their chosen concentration, all students
become actively involved in local and regional service learning projects with real-world
clients. The required professional internship allows them to work in their medium
of interest for several weeks. Students also have plenty of opportunities to gain
professional and networking experience, from working for WCU’s broadcast service or
the department’s news website to joining The Public Relations Student Society of America,
to name but a few.

Where You'll Go

From producing their own broadcasts, print materials and television programs to joining
faculty at national professional conventions, communication students do it all. They
can therefore pursue a wide range of career specialties in fields such as radio and
television broadcasting and advertising sales, print and electronic media, public
relations, and communication training and development. Many broadcasting graduates
enter the top 100 markets, while broadcast sales graduates are in high demand because
they earn industry-recognized professional certification prior to graduation. WCU
journalism and public relations graduates can be found in some of the top media outlets,
corporations and government agencies.